Gane was born in Ilford, Essex, and began his musical career as a purveyor of harsh noise in the early 1980s under the alias Unkommuniti releasing self-financed cassettes on Black Dwarf Wreckordings along with fellow Unkommuniti members Kallous Boys and other noise projects.[4] Tim was a key member of McCarthy from 1985-1990.[4] Turn On, Gane's side project with occasional Stereolab contributor and member of The High Llamas, Sean O'Hagan, released their self-titled debut in 1997.

In 2014, Gane compiled the tracks for Sky Records Kollektion 1, a collection of tracks from the German electronic-rock label, issued by Bureau B.